Sarasota Car and Bicycle Accident Leaves Cyclist Critically Injured

Posted on Sep 29, 2012

On Thursday, September 6, 2012, a car-bicycle crash in Sarasota occurred sending the cyclist to the hospital with critical injuries. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash happened at Bee Ridge Road and Strathmore Boulevard.

Police received a call reporting the Sarasota crash and arrived on scene at 8:13 p.m. They found 53-year-old Gregory John Alan Sodders, of Sarasota, in the road. According to the Florida Highway Patrol report, it appeared that Sodders was trying to cross Bee Ridge Road from the Sunoco, but he rode into the path of a car.

The oncoming car that hit Sodders was a 2011 Toyota Camry driven by 41-year-old Michael Decrescenzo, of Stratham, New Hampshire. Decrescenzo was traveling with a passenger; however, the FHP report stated they were not injured. The Camry did suffer approximately $3,000 in damages, according to the FHP report.

Police indicated that Sodders just had left a nearby gas station and rode into the direct path of the Camry. According to witnesses, the bicyclist was not wearing a helmet and did not have any lights on it.

Police are testing Sodders as well as Decrescenzo for alcohol as a standard procedure, and are awaiting the results before processing charges. The eastbound lanes of Bee Ridge were closed down from Sawyer Road to McIntosh Road while police investigated the crash.

Sodders was taken to Blake Medical Center for treatment of his critical injuries. However, no health updates are known at this time

Our Sarasota car accident attorneys wish Mr. Sodders a full and fast recovery and want to remind all cyclists to always ride with lights and a bicycle helmet for safety.